Sophia Burke '18

6/25/2018

"Students at NA are always juggling 15 things at once -- essays, research papers, labs, presentations, group projects, exams, mentoring, sports, community service, summer travel -- with grace and timeliness. I have learned how to manage my time well and maintain a balance in my life."

The Fellows program has provided so many unique and invaluable experiences, including inspiring speakers, leadership training programs, international travel, and the annual spring symposium. Thrusting me outside my comfort zone every week, this program has shaped me into a critical, global thinker and leader ready to advance to the next level with confidence.

Reflections on Learning

This year, portraying Thrasybulus, the champion of democracy, in Ms. Sheldon’s Ancient Greek class, has been thrilling. In front of middle schoolers, we debated how to rebuild Athens in the aftermath of the Peloponnesian War and tried to gain votes for our proposed legislation.

The Academy DifferenceConfidence in public speaking and recognizing that the opinions of young people do matter are natural byproducts of the curriculum. The Girl of the Day presentation is just one requirement that pushes kids in the lower school outside their comfort zone, and as nerve-wracking as the 9th and 12th grade speeches are, they are a rite of passage and helped me grow tremendously as both a speaker and writer.

Making My MarkBy taking part in dance and the musical consistently and passionately, I hope I have been able to touch my peers emotionally, deepen their appreciation for the arts, and inspire them to find their own artistic outlet.

The thing that most makes me a Bulldog is…my intellectual curiosity, integrity and perseverance.